Extension arm for a free arm parasol, pivotably arranged on a carrier

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an extension arm ( 6 ) that is arranged on a carrier ( 4 ) in such a way that it can pivot about the axis ( 18 ) thereof by means of a steering rod ( 20 ), and can be blocked in the pivoted position. Said steering rod ( 20 ) is arranged on a sleeve ( 44 ) that can be pivoted about the extension arm ( 6 ), can engage with the extension arm in different rotational angle positions, and can be directly or indirectly blocked on the carrier. According to the invention, a first coupling part ( 40 ) fixed to the extension arm ( 6 ) co-operates with a second coupling part ( 42 ) arranged on the sleeve ( 44 ) and acting in the axial direction. Furthermore, the steering rod ( 20 ) comprises a supporting element ( 56 ) that co-operates with a counterpart ( 58 ) arranged on the extension arm ( 6 ), in order to displace the second coupling part ( 42 ) in the axial direction by means of the steering rod ( 20 ). In this way, the extension arm can be pivoted and blocked in a simple manner with one hand.

This application claims priority of PCT application PCT/CH2004/000436having a priority date of Aug. 22, 2003, the disclosure of which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an extension arm for a free arm parasol,pivotably arranged about its axis on a carrier.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An extension arm of the type mentioned at the beginning, pivotablyarranged about its axis on a carrier, is known, for example, from WO01/52686, in which the extension arm is configured as an extendable freearm and the carrier is configured as a pole of a free arm parasol. Foroptimum use of shade as the position of the sun changes, not only canthe pole be rotated about its own axis, but, in particular, theextension arm can also be pivoted about its axis, so that the parasolcan be brought into a corresponding oblique position and can be retainedthere. For this purpose, a guide rod is attached in an articulatedmanner to a sleeve which is arranged in a manner such that it can pivotabout the extension arm and can be latched in various pivoted positionson the extension arm by means of a latching device. For the latching,use is made of a latching bolt which is mounted in a radiallydisplaceable manner in the sleeve, is preloaded against the extensionarm by means of a spring and can be latched into various openings in theextension arm. In order to release the latching bolt, a pulling memberis arranged in the guide rod and is connected to the latching bolt andcan be actuated on a hand part of the guide rod by means of a handle. Itis disadvantageous here that, firstly, the possible number of pivotedangles of the guide rod on the extension arm is limited. Secondly,during the actuation of the hand lever to unlatch the latching bolt bypulling radially on the handle and to pivot the guide rod, two maneuversare always required. When the latching device is released, the guide rodcan be pivoted around the extension arm, whereupon the changed angularposition on the extension arm can be retained by actuation of thelatching device. By the latched guide rod being pivoted back toward thecarrier and being retained on the carrier, the extension arm is securedin the pivoted position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to configure an extension arm for afree arm parasol, arranged pivotably about its axis on a carrier, insuch a manner that the pivoting and retaining of the extension arm arepossible via a single operating element by means of simplified movementswith one hand.

Owing to the fact that a first coupling part, which is connected fixedlyto the extension arm, interacts with a second coupling part, which isformed on the sleeve and is effective in the axial direction, the guiderod having a supporting element which interacts with a counterpartarranged on the extension arm, the second coupling part can be displacedin the axial direction by means of the guide rod and, in the process,can initiate the coupling and decoupling without additional membershaving to be actuated. By means of the guide rod, in the decoupled statethe sleeve can be pivoted freely about the extension arm and, in thecoupled state, the extension arm can be pivoted by means of the sameguide rod.

Advantageous configurations of the extension arm are describedhereinbelow.

A particularly simple configuration of the guide rod has a fork-likesupporting element and is coupled with the latter to the second couplingpart via two bearing bolts.

The coupling may be configured in a different manner. In one embodiment,the coupling is designed as a toothed coupling. In the simplest case, atleast one tooth element can be arranged in one coupling part and tworecesses can be arranged in the associated coupling part. Preferably,however, the two have a relatively large number of teeth which canintermesh. The larger the tooth pitch, the finer is the adjustable angleof inclination of the extension arm. The toothed coupling also forms apositive coupling which prevents an unintentional pivoting of theextension arm. A particularly fine adjustment of the rotational angle ofthe extension arm is permitted by an embodiment in which the coupling isconfigured as a friction coupling. The non-positive friction couplingrequires a sufficient preloading of the coupling parts in relation toeach other in order to prevent an unintentional adjustment of therotational angle of the extension arm. The first coupling part can beconnected directly or indirectly to the extension arm.

In order to avoid injuries, it is expedient if one of the coupling partshas a sleeve part surrounding the coupling region and/or spring region,so that an unintentional intervention of an operator in the couplingregion and/or spring region is prevented.

According to one embodiment, the extension arm is arranged in a mannersuch that it can rotate about its axis on a carrying element, and thecarrying element, for its part, is connected via a joint to a slidewhich can be moved and retained along the carrier. In this case, thejoint is preferably configured as a pin joint which prevents theextension arm from pivoting about the carrier.

Various possibilities likewise emerge for the design of the supportingelement. In alternative embodiments, the supporting element can bearranged on an upper arm of the guide rod and can have a stop lug or canbe designed as a one- or two-sided eccentric. The stop lug, or the one-or two-sided eccentric, is connected in a sliding manner to thecounterpart on the extension arm, the second coupling part beingpreloaded toward the first coupling part by means of a preloadingspring. The preloading spring is preferably arranged in the interior ofthe sleeve-like, second coupling part and is supported at one end on thecoupling part and at the other end on the extension arm. The arrangementof the preloading spring in the sleeve-like, second coupling partprevents accidents.

In a further configuration of the supporting element, a joint isarranged on an upper arm of the guide rod and is connected to acounterpart which is arranged in a manner such that it can pivot aboutthe extension-arm axis. In the case of this positive connection, apreloading spring can be omitted, since the coupling and uncoupling ofthe coupling parts is made possible by actuation of the guide rod inboth directions.

In another embodiment, the guide rod has a retaining device on its lowersection, by means of which the guide rod can be retained on the carrier.The retaining element can be configured as a resilient retaining clip.In this case, it is advantageous if the retaining clip is connected tothe guide rod in an articulated manner in order to be able to adapt tochanges in position during the displacement along the carrier. It isparticularly advantageous if the retaining element, is configured as aretaining lug which engages in a longitudinal slot arranged on the pole.In this case, it is advantageous if the retaining lug comprises two lugparts which are arranged at a distance from each other and engage onside parts of the longitudinal slots in a retaining manner. To this end,it is advantageous if the lug parts are resilient. It is particularlyadvantageous if the lug parts are secured against becoming unlatchedfrom the longitudinal slot by means of a blocking slider. In this case,the arrangement can nevertheless be undertaken in such a manner that amovement of the supporting element along the carrier is possible evenwhen the retaining clip is latched.

It is particularly advantageous if the extension arm is configured as anextendable free arm and the carrier is configured as a pole of a freearm parasol, as described in EP-0 741 531, 0830 074 and WO 01/52686.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detailbelow with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the free arm parasol in a closed position;

FIG. 2 shows the free arm parasol in an opened position;

FIG. 3 shows the guide-rod arrangement of the free arm parasol of FIG. 2in an excerpt and on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 shows the guide-rod arrangement of FIG. 3 in an excerpt and on anenlarged scale;

FIG. 5 shows the guide-rod arrangement of FIG. 4 in longitudinal sectionand on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary embodiment of the support of theextension arm on the pole, in longitudinal section;

FIG. 7 shows a retaining element, which is latched to the pole, withretaining lugs, in horizontal section;

FIG. 8 shows the retaining element, which is latched to the pole, fromFIG. 7, in vertical section;

FIG. 9 shows a, which is latched to the pole, with a retaining clipengaging around the pole, in cross section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Apart from the particular configuration of the extension arm's pivotingcapability, the free arm parasol illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 can beconfigured in accordance with WO 01/52686.

The free arm parasol illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5 has a pole 4 which issecured, for example, in a base 2 and serves as a carrier for anextendable extension arm 6. The latter is arranged via a joint 10 on aslide 8 which is movable along the pole. The extension arm 6 issupported on the upper end of the pole via a connecting rod 12. For thispurpose, the connecting rod 12 is connected, on the one hand, to theextension arm 6 via a joint 14 between the two ends of the extensionarm, and, on the other hand, is connected to the upper end of the polevia a further joint 16. The pivoting of the extension arm 6 about itsaxis 18 is carried out with the aid of a guide rod 20. The latter has,on its lower region, a handle 22 and a retaining device 24, the latterserving to retain the guide rod 20 on the pole 4 and therefore to holdthe extension arm 6 in the selected pivoted position.

Arranged at the end of the extension arm is a canopy 26 which is closedwhen the extension arm is retracted, as shown in FIG. 1, and can beopened when the extension arm is extended, as is revealed in FIG. 2. Themovement of the slide 8 along the pole 4 in order to open and close thecanopy takes place by operation of a crank 28. There are likewisedifferent possibilities for opening and closing the canopy, preferredones of which can be taken from EP-0 741 531 or 0 830 074.

Details with regard to the arrangement of the extension arm 6 on thepole 4 and with regard to the pivoting of the extension arm about itsaxis 18 and the components used for this emerge in particular from FIGS.3 to 5.

The extension arm 6 is arranged in a manner such that it can pivot aboutits axis 18 on a carrying element 30 which, for its part, is connectedto the slide 8 via the joint 10, which is designed as a pin joint. Thetubular extension arm 6 is provided with a sliding sleeve 32 which isarranged rotatably on a connecting piece 34 of the supporting element30. The sliding sleeve 32 is connected to the guide rod 20 via acoupling 38. For this purpose, the sliding sleeve 32 has a firstcoupling part 40 which interacts with a second coupling part 42 arrangedon a coupling sleeve 44 which is mounted rotatably on the sliding sleeve32. The guide rod 20 is fastened pivotably with a fork-shaped part 46 tothe coupling sleeve by means of bearing bolts 48. The first couplingpart 40 has a toothing 50 which interacts with the toothing 50 of thesecond coupling part 42. A preloading spring 54 lies within the couplingsleeve and is supported, on the one hand, on the coupling sleeve, and,on the other hand, on the tubular extension arm 6 and preloads thesecond coupling part 42 towards the first coupling part 40. As a result,the guide rod 20 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to theextension arm 6, so that the extension arm 6 joins in with pivotingmovements of the guide rod 20. The retaining of the position of theextension arm 6 with regard to its pivoted position takes place via theguide rod 20 which is retained on the pole 4 by means of the retainingdevice 24. In order to release the coupling 38, the guide rod 20 has, atthe upper end, a supporting element 56 which is designed in the form ofa curve which connects the fork-like part 46 of the guide rod. After therelease of the retaining device 24 and the pivoting-out of the guide rod20 about the bearing bolts 48, the supporting element 56 is supported ona sliding ring 58, so that, as the pivoting-out of the guide rod 20progresses, the second coupling part 42 can be brought out of engagementwith the first coupling part 40 counter to the preloading force of thepreloading spring 54. In the decoupled state, the guide rod 20 can bepivoted by means of the coupling sleeve 44 about the extension arm by anangle by which the extension arm and therefore the parasol is to bepivoted about the axis 18. In the desired position, by the guide rod 20being pivoted back toward the pole 4, the second coupling part 42 isagain brought into engagement with the first coupling part 40, so thatthe extension arm 6 can be pivoted about the connecting piece 34 of thecarrying element 30 by means of the guide rod 20. In order to retain thedesired pivoted position, the guide rod 20 is connected again to thepole 4 via the retaining device 24, so that the pivoted position of theextension arm and therefore of the parasol is secured.

In order to prevent accidents, the coupling sleeve is provided with afirst skirt 60 which engages over the toothing 50, 52. A second skirt 62covers the preloading spring 54.

FIG. 6 describes a further variant embodiment of the carrying element 30a and its connection to the guide rod 20 a. The extension arm 6 a is inturn connected rotatably to a connecting piece 34 a of the carryingelement 30 a and has a first coupling part 40 a, and the latter isconnected to a second coupling part 42 a which is arranged on a couplingsleeve 44 a which can be pivoted about the extension arm 6 a. The guiderod 20 a is in turn rotatably fastened to this coupling sleeve. Theguide rod 20 a is provided at the upper end with a supporting element 56a which is connected via a joint 64 to a counterpart 66. The latter isdesigned as a coupling element which can be moved in an encirclinggroove 70 and an access slot 72 via a ball head 68 in order to followthe pivoting movement of the guide rod 20 a. By means of the fixed,articulated connection between the upper supporting element 56 a and thecarrying element 30 a, the guide rod 20 a can be used both for couplingand for uncoupling the toothing 50 a, 52 a between the first couplingpart 40 a and the second coupling part 42 a. In the case of this variantembodiment, a preloading spring for holding the coupling in the closedstate is not required, but could additionally be installed. This variantembodiment according to FIG. 6 functions analogously to the variantembodiment of FIG. 5.

It is also conceivable to replace the toothed couplings 38, 38 a ofFIGS. 5 and 6 by friction couplings, since the latter afford theadvantage of a stepless pivoting of the extension arm about its axis. Inthe case of this variant embodiment, the first coupling part is inengagement with the second coupling part via friction surfaces. Thefriction surfaces can be designed in this case as coupling disks orcoupling cones.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show, in a horizontal and vertical section, a preferredembodiment of the retaining device 24 as is used in the case of thefirst exemplary embodiment. The retaining device contains a retaininglug 76 which is connected pivotably to the handle 22 via a joint 74,with the articulated connection between handle 22 and retaining lug 76being formed by a joint bolt 78. The retaining lug 76 is arranged in arecess 80 of the handle 22. The retaining lug 76 is formed from tworesilient lug parts 82, 84 which are arranged at a distance from eachother. Arranged on the outer sides of the lug parts 82, 84 are latchinggrooves 86, 88 which, in the latched state, interact with side parts 90,92 of a longitudinal slot 94 in the pole 4. In order to prevent aninadvertent unlatching of the mainly resiliently designed lug parts 82,84, there is a blocking slider 96 which can be pushed into the gapbetween the lug parts 82, 84. The blocking slider 96 contains a handhoop 98 with which it can be actuated. When the hand hoop 98 is pulled,the blocking slider 96 moves against a stop 100 formed on the retaininglug 76, whereupon the guide rod 20 can be removed from its latchingposition.

The pivoting of the retaining lug 76 is restricted by stops 102, 104 ofthe recess 80. The articulated arrangement of the retaining lug 76 onthe handle 22 is necessary, so that, during the movement of the slide 8in the retained state or during the retention itself, the retaining lug76 can compensate for changing angular positions of the handle 22 andcan therefore be aligned with respect to the longitudinal slot 94 of thepole 4 for all positions of the handle 22.

FIG. 9 shows a modified retaining device 24 which has a retainingelement designed as a retaining clip 106, which is fastened to thehandle 22 and, in the retained state, at least partially engages aroundthe pole 4.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

-   2 Base-   4 Pole-   6 Extension arm-   6 a Extension arm-   8 Slide-   10 Joint-   12 Connecting rod-   14 Joint-   16 Joint-   18 Axis-   20 Guide rod-   20 a Guide rod-   22 Handle-   24 Retaining device-   26 Canopy-   28 Crank-   30 Carrying element-   30 a Carrying element-   32 Sliding sleeve-   34 Connecting piece-   34 a Connecting piece-   38 Coupling-   38 a Coupling-   40 First coupling part-   40 a First coupling part-   42 Second coupling part-   42 a Second coupling part-   44 Coupling sleeve-   44 a Coupling sleeve-   46 Fork part-   48 Bearing bolt-   50 Toothing-   50 a Toothing-   52 Toothing-   52 a Toothing-   54 Preloading spring-   56 Supporting element-   56 a Supporting element-   58 Sliding ring-   60 First skirt-   62 Second skirt-   64 Joint-   66 Counterpart-   68 Ball head-   70 Groove-   72 Access slot-   74 Joint-   76 Retaining lug-   78 Joint bolt-   80 Recess-   82 Lug part-   84 Lug part-   86 Latching groove-   88 Latching groove-   90 Side part-   92 Side part-   94 Longitudinal slot-   96 Blocking slider-   98 Hand hoop-   100 Stop-   102 Lower stop-   104 Upper stop-   106 Retaining clip

1. An extension arm for a free arm parasol, pivotably arranged about itsaxis on a carrier, the extension arm being pivotable by means of a guiderod and being retainable in the pivoted position, the guide rod beingarranged on a sleeve, which is pivotable about the extension arm andbeing latchable into different rotational angle positions with theextension arm and being retainable directly or indirectly on thecarrier, and wherein a first coupling part, is connected fixedly to theextension arm and interacts with a second coupling part which is formedon the sleeve and is operable in the axial direction, said firstcoupling part and said second coupling part forming a coupling, theguide rod having a supporting element which interacts with a counterpartarranged on the extension arm, in order to displace the second couplingpart in the axial direction by means of the guide rod.
 2. The extensionarm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide rod has afork part and is coupled with said guide rod to the second coupling partvia two bearing bolts.
 3. The extension arm as claimed in claim 1,characterized in that the coupling is designed as a toothed coupling,said coupling having at least one tooth element in one coupling part andat least two recesses in the opposite coupling part.
 4. The extensionarm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the coupling isconfigured as a friction coupling.
 5. The extension arm as claimed inclaim 1, characterized in that the first coupling part is connecteddirectly to the extension arm.
 6. The extension arm as claimed in claim1, characterized in that one of the coupling parts has a sleeve partsurrounding the coupling region and/or a spring region.
 7. The extensionarm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the extension arm isarranged in a manner such that it can rotate about its axis on acarrying element, and the carrying element is connected via a joint to aslide which can be moved and retained along the carrier.
 8. Theextension arm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thesupporting element is arranged on an upper arm of the guide rod and hasa stop lug which is connected in a sliding manner to the counterpart onthe extension arm, the second coupling part being preloaded against thefirst coupling part by means of a preloading spring.
 9. The extensionarm as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the supporting elementis designed as a two-sided eccentric.
 10. The extension arm as claimedin claim 9, characterized in that the preloading spring is arranged inthe interior of the second coupling part and is supported at one end onthe coupling part and at the other end on the extension arm.
 11. Theextension arm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that thesupporting element is arranged on an upper arm of the guide rod and isconnected via a joint to the counterpart which is arranged in a mannersuch that it can pivot about the extension-arm axis.
 12. The extensionarm as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the guide rod has aretaining device in its lower section and can be retained on thecarrier, which is designed as a pole, by means of retaining element. 13.The extension arm as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that theretaining element is designed as a resilient retaining clip.
 14. Theextension arm as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that theretaining element is connected to the guide rod in an articulatedmanner.
 15. The extension arm as claimed in claim 12, characterized inthat the retaining element is designed as a retaining lug which engagesin a longitudinal slot arranged on the pole.
 16. The extension arm asclaimed in claim 15, characterized in that the retaining lug has two lugparts which are arranged at a distance from each other and engage onside parts of the longitudinal slot in a retaining manner.
 17. Theextension arm as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the lugparts are resilient.
 18. The extension arm as claimed in claim 16,characterized in that the lug parts are secured against becomingunlatched from the longitudinal slot by means of an insertable blockingslider.
 19. The extension arm as claimed in claim 1, characterized inthat the first coupling part is connected indirectly to the extensionarm.
 20. The extension arm as claimed in claim 8, characterized in thatthe supporting element is designed as a one-sided eccentric.